Coronavirus Ushers In The New Normal Of The Workplace

In a matter of weeks, the coronavirus pandemic has forced restaurants, bars, retailers and gyms to shut down. Along with this, millions of people are now required or being encouraged to work from home if possible.

With this sudden transformation in the way we work, it is expected that there will be a new normal established for the workplace.

One way some companies are preparing for what is being called the largest work from home experiment is ramping up training programs. For example, Microsoft has created a Guide to Working From Home During COVID-19 to make this transition easier.

“Our guidance ranges from setting up your physical and virtual workspace to managing your time and wellbeing, as well as specific guidance for managers,” said Rachel Russell, one of the creators of the guide. “Everyone’s experience is different, and we continue to offer learning resources and community spaces, like Yammer groups, where employees can ask questions, share anecdotes, and brainstorm ideas for staying healthy, engaged, and productive.”

Additionally, prioritizing wellbeing will be essential in ensuring workers are well-adjusted to remote working, particularly in a time of great anxiety. This can be accomplished by creating a clean and organized workspace, allowing yourself breaks throughout the day and setting specific hours to work so it does not bleed into your personal time.

The coronavirus has brought upon unprecedented standards for how businesses operate and provides them a chance to reevaluate how they normally operate. In the future, this could mean more remote working options, re-skilling opportunities and transforming corporate learning.